Electric switch



C..C. STIRLING.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14, 1920.

1,377,689., Patented y MI, 1921.

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1921.

Application filed January 14, 1920. Serial No. 351,373.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,CLARnNon C. STIRLING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have inventedcertarn new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric switches. The invention may be employed with advantage in many different connectlons although it is of especial utility when incorporated in a pendant switch. I have several motives in view among them being the provision of means by which the clrcuit-controlling or switching member can be rapidly and easily moved between the on and off positions.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification 1 have shown in detail one of the several forms of embodiment of the invention, which will be set forth fully in the following description. I am not restricted to this disclosure as I may depart therefrom in several respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claims following said descript1on.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a switch involving the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with certaln of the parts omitted.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are horizontal sections taken just above the circuit-controlling mechanism.

Fi 6 is a detail view of contacts and a circuit-controlling member, the lattenbemg shown in the on and the off position by full and dotted lines respectively Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views which are on different scales.

Certain of the operative parts of the switch mechanism aresustained by a body. This body may be of any sultable character, that denoted in a general way by 2 answering my conditions, and having in ItS upper side a cavity or chamber as 3 in which the switching mechanism, hereinafter described, operates. The body 2 may be made of any proper insulating material as com mon' in switch structures. 7 side of the body is connected the base shell To the under 4 which is threaded to receive the base shell of an extenslon connection, a lamp or something of such character, the lamp having contacts or terminals which cooperate with those of the swltch. The base shell 4 presents one of these contacts. In addition to .this contact there is a central end contact as 5 the main portion 6 of which fits against the bottom of the insulating body 2 and is provided with an extension 7 projecting through the opening or slot 8, in the insulating body 2 and the free portion 9 of which constitutes a contact which cooperates with the contact or terminal 9 fastened by screws or otherwise to one side or wall of the cavity or chamber 3. This terminal 9 at its upper widened or enlarged end is tapped to receive a screw 10 by which a wire or lead may be mechanically and electrically connected to the contact or terminal 9. Opposite the terminal 9 and complemental thereto, is a terminal as 11 fastened as by screws to the inner wall of the cavity or chamber 3 and which has a screw as 12 threaded thereto and by which a wire may be similarly connected thereto.

These two wires are of course skinned where they are connected, with the two ter nginlals, and they present branches of a cable 1 y suspended. The terminal 11 is shown provided with a lateral extension 14 terminating man eye 15 through which the shank of the screw 16 extends the screw also projecting through a sleeve 17 in the chamber 3 the lower end of the sleeve fitting a socket in the bottom of the chamber. The screw 16 extends through the body 4 and is in threaded connection with an inturned flange of the metallic shell 4. The break in the circuit is situated between the ends of the contacts 7 and 9 and when this break is not bridged'electrically the switch is in the open circuited position. When, however, this break is bridged the closed relation ensues.

Surrounding the insulating body 2 is a casing asv 18 the reduced lower portion of the casing receiving the shell 4. Between the shell 4 and also between the body 2 and the casing 18 is dis oseda jacket 19 of insulating material. itted around the upper end portion of the casing, 18 is a cap 20 which receives within it a jacket of insula-' tion as 21. Set into this cap is the insulated bushing 22 through which the cable or cord 13 extends.

The"circuit-controlling member is designated by 23 and it cooperates in the present case directly with the contacts 7 and 9 as shown best in Fig. 6. in full lines in this view the circuit-controlling or switching member 23 is shown as being in the on or closed position at which time it is against both contacts 7 and 9 so as to electrically bridge the same. In dotted lines it is shown in the off position and away from both of the contacts 7 and 9. This circuit-controlling or switching member 23 is situated within the chamber or cavity 3 and as shown it has a hole through it to slidingly receive an actuator as 24 the effect of the actuator being transferred through suitable means to the circuit-controlling or switching memher to move the same between the on and off positions thereof. The actuator is practically in the form of .a sectional pin as is somewhat common in pendant switches of various kinds, the body 2, the insulation 19 and the surrounding shell 18 having registering perforations which freely receive the actuator for reciprocatory or back and forth movements.

The actuator 2% does not in the present case apply its effect directly to the circuitcontrolling or switching member 23 but a power-transmitting member such as that de noted in a general way by 25 is shown for the purpose. This power-transmittingmem her as represented is in the form of a yoke or fork the body 26 thereof receiving the actuator 24 and the two being rigidly united in some suitable way. The branches 27 of this yoke or fork are resilient or springy and converge toward the actuator, there being a 1 tendency to constantly approach each other.

These arms have rounded portions 28 at their free ends and which engage at all times the polygonal periphery of the circuit-controlling or switching member 23.

The chamber or socket 3 has fastened to its bottom the hearing or bracket 29 upon which the actuator 24 is slidingly supported, the plate having an inwardly extending channeled extension 30 which receives the middle portion of the actuator. In addition to this the plate or bracket 29 is furnished with two sets of stops as 31 and 32 between which the transverse portion 26 of the yoke moves. This transverse portion is shown as engaging the two inner stops 32 in Fig. 4: while it engages the two outer stops 31 in Fig. 5 thereby positively arresting the motion of the actuator 24 when the switching member 23 is in its respective positions.

In Fig. at the-switching member 23 is shown as being in the off position corresponding with the dotted line position in aeaaeae Fig. 6, the arms 27 being against two cooperating flat faces of the switching member 23 which is held by such arms in its 0d position. To move the switching member to the on position the actuator 24 will be moved toward the left in Fig. 4e thus carrying the power-transferring member 25 therewith and causing the free rounded ends of the branches or arms 27 to be spread to move outwardly, the motion continuing until the arms pass free of the two cooperating flat faces and then enter and instantly ride down two other opposite faces. When the latter occurs the switching member by the power of the contracting spring arms 27 is caused to be snapped to the on position or that shown in Fig. 5, and by full lines in Fig. 6 at which time the circuit-controlling or switching member 23 mechanically and electrically bridges the contacts or terminals 7 and 9.

Although I have described the circuitcontrolling or switching member of which that designated by 23 meets my conditions, as sustained by an actuator as 24 this may not always be necessary nor is it necessary always that the power-transferring member of spring form be carried by the actuator. Yet by thus'relating the two parts the powertransferring member or spring means has advantageously the necessary movement with the actuator. While the circuit-controlling or switching member 23 is of polygonal or hexagonal form and while this form is a desirable one, it may not always be necessary although such a structure secures outwardly-converging surfaces adapted to be successively engaged by spring or equivalent means, to obtain the requisite movement of the circuit-controlling or switching memher.

What I claim is:

1. An electric switch comprising contacts, a switching member, an actuator mounted for back and forth movements and upon which the switching member is slidable, and a forked spring element, the transverse part of which is rigid with the actuator the switching member having converging cam surfaces inclined with respect to the axis of the actuator in two directions and the spring element having side branches for engaging said cam surfaces to condition said branches to effect the snap movement of the switching member between on and ofi' positions of the actuator.

2. An electric switch comprising contacts, a switching member, an actuator mounted for back and forth movements and upon which the switching member is slidable, a forked spring element, the transverse part of which is rigid with the actuator the switching member having converging cam surfaces inclined with respect to the axis of the actuator in two directions and the spring element having side branches for engaging said cam surfaces to condition said branches to effect the snap movement of the switching member between on and off posi tions of the actuator, a bracket having two sets of stops between which the transverse part of the yoke moves and which limit the motion of the yoke and therefore of the actuator.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE C. STIRLING. Witnesses:

ELSIE M. RABENSTEIN, HEATH SUTHERLAND. 

